Ice freezing tray



April 1944- c. E. DODSON 2,345,799

ICE FREEZING TRAY Filed July 26, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Cagra/l f. 00460.

April 4, 1944. c, DODSON ICE FREEZING TRAY Filed July 26, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M3 d r W 6 ATT RNEY Patented Apr. 4, 1944 ICE FREEZING TRAY Carroll E. Dodson, Kansas City, Mo., assignor, by mesne assignments, to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Micln, a corporation of Delaware Application July 26, 1937, Serial No. 155,670

9 Claims. ((162-1085) This invention relates to ice freezing trays, particularly those equipped with grids for forming ice in individual blocks or cubes, and has for its principal object to provide a tray of this character with ing removal of the ice.

Otherimportant objects ofthe invention are to provide an ice freezing tray equipped with a cube extracting means of simple and inexpensive construction, that is easily operated, and which 1 0 applies the releasing pressure to the ice cubes as distinguished from pressure through the grids.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide a freezing tray wherein the grids are I securely locked in fixed position by the releasing means so that the cubes are of regular, uniform shape; to provide a constructionwhereby two or more cubes may be removed separately from the other cubes; release of the cubes so as to reduce the effort required in operating'the release mechanism; and to provide a release mechanism having a minimum of parts thatmay be readily cleansed and kept free 1 of odors.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accom-' panying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ice freezing tray equipped with a mechanical cube releasing means embodying the features of the present in vention. i

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the parts 35 of the cube release mechanismishown in disassembled spaced relation relative to the center grid'of the tray.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the cube release shoes. 40

Fig. a longitudinal vertical section through the tray. showing the release mechanism in its position during, freezing of ithe ice cubes. 3

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the tray on the line 5-5 of Fig-4. 1 4

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the tray showing the release mechanism as being actuatedto release the ice cubes from the grids.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

- l designates anice freezing tray comprising a to relatively long, shallow pan having side walls 2-3, end walls 4-5, and a bottom 6 preferably formed of a singl sheet stamping as in conventional ice tray construction. The walls 2, 3 and 4 flare slightly from the 5 mechanical means for facilitat o bottom to provide sufllcient draft for ready release of the block of ice cubes, however, the end wall 5 slopes at a greater angle to facilitate tilting movement of the block of frozen cubes incidental to initial release thereof from the tray as later described. The walls 2-3 and 4-5 preferably. terminate in a rolled rim to increase the rigidity of the tray and enhance the appearance thereof. a

Removably mounted in the tray is a grid section 1 including a central grid plate 8 extend- ,ing longitudinally of the tray and a plurality of transverse grid plates 9 extending across the tray in spaced parallel relation to provide rows of substantially cube-like compartments III for forming individual ice cubes as in conventional practice. The longitudinal grid plate 8 is best illustrated in Fig. 2, and is shown as comprising a single strip metal having its ends II and [2 to provide for successive 20 formed at substantially the same angles as the adjacent end walls 4 and 5 of ,v the tray and which is of suilicient height so that the ends it and it of its upper edge are spaced slightly below the rim of the tray as best shown in Fig. 4. The intermediateportion of the upper edge of the plate is downset from the ends to provide a recess l5 for accommodating a shoe carrying bar I 8, later described.

Formed at proper intervals along the length of the plate is a plurality of notches ll, having the sides l8 in the direction of the end It extending perpendicularly relative to the bottom edge is of the plate and terminating substantially the opposite side faces thereof, are reinforcing strips 22-23 and 24-25, respectively, having their upper edges extending in the plane of the upper edges of the plate and their lower edges terminating short of the normal liquid level to be carriediin the tray.

Formed in the ends of the gridplate, as well as in the reinforcing plates, are elongated slots 26 and 21, the slots 21 being spaced from the end I2 of the grid plate to accommodate a bearing opening 28 and an intermediate transverse groove or notch 29 for purposes later described. The transverse grid plates 9 conform in height movement relatively to to the intermediate portion of the longitudinal grid plate and are of a length to snugly engage the inner facesaof theside walls 2 and 3, as shown in Fig. 5. The intermediate portions f the transverse grids areprovided with downwardly opening slots 35, terminatingiri downwardly facing seats 3| to engage the seats 25 of the longitudinal grid plate. The transverse grid plates are applied to the longitudinal grid plate by passing the lower edges thereof through the notches IT with the notches 35 in registering alignment with the seats 25, so that when theseat 3| engages therewith the transverse plates are carried by the longitudinal grid plate to form a single grid unit wherein the transverse plates have slight rocking the longitudinal grid plate.

The bar l5 seats on the upper edge of the 1ongitudinal grid plate between the ends l3 and 14 to bridge the open ends of the notches l1, andprevent upward displacement of the transverse grid plates. The bar l5 has sliding movement on the upper edge of the longitudinal grid plate and is, therefore, slightly shorter than the recess 15 to provide an actuating space 32 (Fig. 4); The bar 15 is of rectangular cross-section and is of suflicient thickness that the upper face thereof lies substantially inthe same plan as the end edges l3. and I4. The width of the bar, however, is slightly narrower than the width of the reinforced portions of the plate to provide freedom of movement for releasing shoes 33 that are sleeved thereon for sliding movement relative to the longitudinal direction of the grid plate. The release shoes are best illustrated in Fig. 3 and are shown as comprising substantially right angular sector shaped wings 34 and 35 connected by a cross bar 35 extending upwardly from the upper edges 51 of the wings to provide abutment shoulders 38 and 33 on the respec ive sides thereof for a purpose later described.

The upper portions of the wings are spaced by the cross bars 35 so that they snugly engage the sides of the bar it but the lower portions thereof are inset inwardly, asat 45 and 4|, to

closely engage the respective side faces of the longitudinal grid plate, as shown in Fig. 5. The depending arcuate edges 42 are bevelled to provide knife-like portions to wedgingly engage between the sides of the longitudinal grid plate and the frozen ice cubes as later described.

The rear edges 43 of the wings depend perpendicula-rly relative to the edges 31 so that they abut squarely against the transverse grids on the sides thereof opposite to the perpendicular faces I3 of the notches l1. Thus, the release shoes cooperate with the perpendicular faces of the notches to clamp the grid plates therebetween and retain them in vertical planes in fixed and uniform spaced relation. However, when the shoes are moved away from the grid plates they are free to tilt as limited by the angular inclination of the faces 2| to permit freedom of movement of the ice cubes responsive to wedging action of the shoes, as later described.

Attention is directed to the fact that the offset portions 45 and 4| are located above the normal liquid level in the pan and only the depending arcuate portions of the wings project into the liquid for engagement with the ice that is solidified therefrom.

Shoes of the type shown in Fig. 3 are used only for effecting extraction of the ice cubes between the respective grid plates, and specially formed shoes 44 and 45 are used for loosening the cubes pending arcuate portions 48 having knif edges 49 adapted for slight swinging and reciprocatory movement on the respective sides of the longitudinal grid plate, the portions 48 being inset from the ear portions 45 as best shown in Fig. 2. The

shoe 45 at the opposite end of the grid plate the respective faces of the grid plate to effect release of the ice cubes frozen in the compartments at that end of the tray. The bell cranks 50 include actuating lever arms 54 that extend at slightly less than right angles to the depending arms 5|, as best shown in Fig. 4.

Slidably mounted on the reinforced ends of the longitudinal grid plate, and telescoping over the bar i5, is a substantially channel-shaped actuating bar 55, having a web 55 and depending side flanges 51 and 58 of suflicient width and spacing to provide pairs of ears 59 and 55 at the respective ends thereof for engaging over the outer side faces of the ear portions 41 of the shoe 44 and the lever arms 54 of the shoe 45. The channel-shaped bar 55 corresponds in length to the spacing of the slots 25 and 21 so that a pivot pin BI is projected through apertures 52 aligning apertures 55 in the bell crank arms, and

through the slot 21 as best shown in Fi 4.

The web portion 55 of the actuating bar has a plurality of spaced rectangular openings 51 to receive the connecting bars 35 of the respective shoes 33 and to form abutments 55 and 59 :for

p ctively engaging the shoulders "and 33 of the respective bars. The openings .,are of r greater width than the bars 35 to perr'nit initial movement of the actuating bar before the abutments 58 or 53 engage the shoulders 35, and 35 to effect sliding movement of the sho's', depending upon directional movement of thebar as later described. a j T' r The openings 51 are also of differential length and progressively increase in size so as to provide progressive pickup of the shoes 33, the opening nearest the shoe 45 being shortest and the opening nearest the shoe 44 being the longest. Pivotally mounted on a cross-pin 15, extending through the bearing opening 25, previously described, is an actuating lever 1| of substantial channel-shaped cross-section and having a web portion 12 adapted to overlie the bar 55, and

having depending flanges 13 provided with bear-' ing ap rtures 14 for engaging the ends of the cross-pin 10. Also' formed in the flanges of the actuating lever are bearing apertures 15 for passing a pivot pin 15 extending through the terminal ends "or the arms 54. of the bell crank levers to pivotally connect the arms with the actuating lever. The pivot and of the actuating lever has a cam 11 for engaging an edge 15 that is formed by a notch 19 provided in the rim of the end wall 5, the cam end of the lever being shaped so that when the lever is fulcrumed upon the pivot pin with the transverse grid plates 'rockingly retained in engagement with the per- II the lever will effect lifting of that end of the grid section, as shown in Fig. 6, to initially release the frozen block of ice, including all of the cubes. The opposite end of the actuating lever terminates in a handle portion 80; I

In operating an ice freezi g tray equipped with a cube release mechanism constructed and assembled as described, the actuating lever is moved into the position overlying the actuating :bar as shown in Fig. 1. This movement of the lever effects rocking movement of the bell cranks 50 in the ears 60 of the actuating bar, and simultaneous shifting movement of the actuating bar in the direction of the opposite end wall 4 so that the pin .16 passes into the notch 29 of the longitudinalgrid section to a point slightly below a plane passing through the pivot pins 64 and 16 to etfect'locking of the actuating bar. During movement of the actuating lever, the abutments i9 thereon progressively engage the shoulders 39 on the respective cross bars 36 to effect progressive pickup and sliding movement of the shoes 33 to bring the ends 43 thereof into abutment 9 so that they are pendicular end faces l8 ,of the notches H, as shown in Fig.4.

Attention is here directed to the fact that the relative spacing between the abutments 69 correspond to'the spacing of the faces i 8 of the notches I! so that when the bar is in locked position the plates are in their proper position. This movement of the. actuating bar carries the release shoes 44 into substantial contact with the inner face of the end wall 4 and movement of the bell cranks at the opposite end carries the shoe 5 into supporting engagement with the transverse grid plate adjacent the end wall 5 of the tray, to lock that plate against the perpendicular face l8. The tray is then filled with the liquid to be frozen to a level slightly below the lower edges of the offsets 40 and H of the respective cube releasing shoes 33 so that when the liquid expands in freezing, the upper surfaces of the "cubes will approximately reach the lower edges of the offsets. The trayis then inserted in the freezing compartment of the refrigerator until the liquid is frozen as in conventional practice.

When it is desired to use the ice cubes, the

tray is removed and the handle 80 of the actuatin lever is grasped by the fingers of one hand while the other hand supports the tray, so that the lever may be swung retractively on the pivot pin 10. Initial movement of the lever brings the cam 71 thereof into engagement with the notched edge i8 of the tray, applying a lifting pressure on the blocks of cubes to effect their release from the tray, the release being facilitated incidental to the draft on the side walls of the pan, as previously described. After release of the block of ice further movement of the actuating lever eflects rocking movement of the bell cranks to swing the release shoe 45 between the side faces of the longitudinal grid plate and the adjacent sides of the cubes of ice contained in'the end compartments to effect forced release thereof laterally from the sides of the grid. ment of the release shoes also applies a lifting pressure 0n the ice cubes to cause sliding movement thereof up the incline of the wall 5, and removal is readily effected.

During release of the end cubes the other cubes remain intact and may be left in the tray by returning the operating lever to its original po- This arcuate movesition, however, if more cubes are desired, further movement of the operating lever causes themay be removed. Further movement of the actuating lever causes the abutment 68 to engage the shoulder 38 of the release shoe nearest the actuating lever to'move that shoe to effect release of the ice cubes contained in those compartments. The wings, moving between the ice cubes and the longitudinal plate, spread the ice cubes and break them away from the face of the second grid and carry them in the direction of the first grid, causing the first grid to tilt for allowing ready withdrawal of the cubes. Further movement causes the other stop shoulders to successively and progressively engage the stop shoulders on the other shoes so that the remaining cubes are successively and progressively released, thereby reducing the amount of eifort required in actuating the lever.

After removal of thecubes, frost and similar accumulations on the grids are readily washed off by holding the grid section under a stream of running water.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided an ice freezing tray with simple and relatively inexpensive means for facilitating removal of the ice cubes, and which is readily operated with a minimum amount of effort on the part of the operator. The cubes, when removed with mechanical means as described, have the full size and shape imparted to them by the contour of the respective compartments so that a maximum amount of ice is removed at each freezing operation of the tray.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. In a tray of the character described, a removable grid dividing the tray into separate compartments for forming individual blocks of ice when a liquid is frozen in the tray, means for initially releasing the grid containing the blocks of ice from the tray, means movably carried on the grid and engageable between a portion of the grid and the respective blocks of ice to eii'ect release of said blocks from the grid, and an actuator successively connecting said means and having portions for successively and progressively moving said means.

2. In a tray of the character described, a grid removably disposed therein, including a longitudinal grid plate having a recessed upper edge and transverse grids loosely carried by the longitudinal grid, a bar supported in said recess for retaining the transverse grids, ice releasing shoes removably disposed therein, including a longitudinal grid plate having a recessed upper edge and transverse grids loosely carried by the iongitudinal grid plate, a bar supported in said recess 1'01 retaining the transverse grids, ice releasing shoes slidable on the bar, connecting means slidable relatively to the longitudinal grid plate and having successive engagement with the respective shoes for effecting successive release ofv the blocks of ice engaged by the respective shoes, and means for actuating said connecting means, including means for raising the grid in the tray. 4. In a tray of the character described, a grid removably disposed therein, including a longitudinal grid plate having a recessed upper edge provided with spaced slots, transverse grids loosely carried in said slots, a bar supported in said recess for retaining the transverse grids, ice releasing shoes slidable on the bar, connecting means slidable relatively to the longitudinal grid plate and having successive engagement with the respective shoes for effecting successive release of the blocks of ice engaged by the respective shoes, and means for actuating said connecting means including means for initially releasing the grid including the blocks of ice from the tray,

5. In a tray of the character described, a grid removably disposed therein, including a longitudinal grid plate having a recessed upper edge and transverse grids loosely carried by the longitudinal grid plate, a bar supported in said recess for retaining the transverse grids, ice releasing shoes slidable on the bar, a channel-shaped member slidable over the bar and having pin and slot connection with the longitudinal grid plate, means on the channel-shaped member having successive engagement with the respective shoes for effecting successive release of thetblocks of ice engaged by the respective shoes, and means for actuating said channel-shaped member including means for initially releasing the grid including the blocks of ice from the tray.

6. In a tray of the character described, a grid removably disposed therein, including a longitudinal grid plate having a recessed upper edge and transverse grids loosely carried by the longitudinal grid plate, a bar supported in said recess for retaining the transverse grids, ice releasing shoes slidable on the bar and having engagement with the transverse grid plates to prevent movement of the transverse grid plates, connecting means slidable relatively to the longitudinal grid plate and having successive engagement with the respective shoes for effecting successive movement of the shoes from said transverse plates to eifect release of the blocks of ice engaged by the respective shoes, and means for actuating said connecting means, including means for initially releasing the grid including the blocks of ice from the tray.

'7. In a tray of the character described, a grid removably disposed therein and including a longitudinal wall, a plurality of transverse walls movably mounted on the longitudinal wall and forming therewith a plurality of ice block compartments, means movably carried on the grid and engageable between a portion thereof and ice blocks within said compartments to effect release of ice blocks from the grid, lever actuated mechanism movable independently of the transverse grid walls for moving said ice block releasing means, said ice block releasing means acting on said transverse grid walls to hold same in said ice block compartment forming position in the inactive position of the lever, and the movable mounting of said transverse grid walls permitting shifting thereof relative to said longitudinal grid wall upon movement of the lever.

8. In a tray of the character described, a grid removably disposed therein and dividing the interior thereof into separate compartments for forming a plurality of ice blocks, means movably carried on the grid and engageable between a portion of the grid and ice blocks within said compartments to effect release of ice blocks from the grid, and an actuator for successively engaging and progressively moving said means.

9. In a tray of the character described, a grid removably disposed therein and including a longitudinal wall, a' plurality of transverse walls loosely carried by the longitudinal wall and forming therewith a plurality of ice block compartments, means extending into said compartments and being movable with respect to said grid walls for releasing ice blocks from the compartments, and means movable independently of the transverse walls for moving said ice block releasing means.

CARROLL E. DODSON. 

